Victory for Harwich and Manningtree rail passengers after Greater Anglia service U-turn

RAIL users have had a victory after convincing their train operator to reverse a new delay policy.

Commuters were furious Greater Anglia’s connecting trains between Harwich and Manningtree would no longer wait for delayed transferring passengers on the London to Norwich line.

The new rules, which started last Monday, January 7, meant passengers could be stranded at the station for up to an hour until the next Mayflower Line train arrived.

But Greater Anglia has staged a U-turn after one week of the unpopular rules. Trains from Manningtree to Harwich will wait up to five minutes for delayed passengers “wherever possible”.

A Greater Anglia spokesperson said: "We have recently reviewed arrangements at Manningtree in respect of the Manningtree to Harwich branch line trains in the event of any late running occurring to mainline services from London.

“We try to ensure that mainline services are able to connect with the branch line trains, as per the advertised timetable.

“Following further discussions and in responding positively to feedback on this matter, wherever possible we will allow for branch line connections to be held for up to five minutes (in excess of the scheduled departure time) in the event of a delay to the service from London."

Bernard Jenkin MP and Passenger Focus joined residents and Manningtree Rail Users Association to get the decision overturned.

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